Lets create: Old Fashioned English 4-4-2

[dhurley]

Trying to create an Old Fasshioned 4-4-2 by using the flanks and getting the ball onto the target man so he can either score or flick it on to his striking partner. I'm going to need some help with this because people have different opinions and there are some good tactisions on this site that could make this work in the Premier league. The team i have chosen to test this with is West Ham.

Tactic/Roles

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(The wide midfielder is changed to a winger)

Team instructions

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I haven't chosen any player instructions as of yet as i'd like to hear what people think. As i said please feel free to give any advise you have and maybe even test it yourself.

 

[AayushCFC]

Playing wider with only 2 man midfield could potentially weaken midfield a little, no?

 

[El Presidente II]

Seems way too attacking to me. If your wingers are intended as the main threat I would suggest the front 2 on support or even a defensive duty.

 

[Blarry]

Well, you can "play narrower" als per team instruction, but still instruct both wingers to "stay wider". They might lack support on the wings, but since you're about to use them primarily for running forward and crossing, it'll do.

Playing four players with Attack duty isn't all that bad as long as two of those are wide midfielders so that they naturally participate in defensive work. But remember: Stamina and Work Rate are your two most important attributes for your wingers, by a country mile. Those two will have the most footwork to do in every game.

While a TM/Poacher partnership can be effective, you might want to consider spreading your strikers vertically so that they don't just sit on the offside line. Try switching your TM/A to TM/S or your Poacher to DLF, maybe even F9. Especially smaller, more dynamic strikers with high agility and dribbling are a huge threat when you leave them a bit in the back field, to allow them bombing through the defense.